Denying Life?

"Is this... a simulation pod specially manufactured for you by the Spirit Pagoda?!"

Seeing something so distinct from the other pods, which resembled coffins, even Wu Zhangkong couldn't help but linger his gaze on it, let alone the others in Zero Class or Long Hengxu.

"Yes. Because my Martial Soul tends to trigger various issues within the Spirit Ascension Platform, and my strength increases tremendously after I transform, my teacher not only prepared a custom simulation pod for me but also oversaw the reinforcement of the Spirit Ascension Platform's space."

Facing Tang Wulin's question, Lan Kai explained earnestly.

Tang Wulin and the others couldn't help but cast their gazes toward Juggler, who was standing at the door, their eyes filled with reverence.

"Alright, your mission today is to survive in the Spirit Ascension Platform for as long as possible and find ways to kill the soul beasts within to obtain spiritual power that can increase your soul ring age.

"However, while Lan Kai is acting with you, he will not intervene in your battles; otherwise, it would not serve as a proper trial for you.

"Additionally, you will not be grouped together when you enter the Spirit Ascension Platform."

Wu Zhangkong reminded them once more before watching the six members of Zero Class enter their respective simulation pods.

Not long after, six screens in the room displayed the footage of the six Zero Class members after they entered the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Wu Zhangkong's gaze shifted constantly between the various screens, seemingly trying to ensure the safety of each one of them.

But just then, his shoulder was suddenly tapped.

Wu Zhangkong turned around to see Juggler, his expression solemn.

Although Juggler said nothing and simply turned to walk out of the room, Wu Zhangkong understood that this was a signal that he intended to discuss something with him.

After the two arrived outside the room, Juggler stopped in his tracks.

"Wu Zhangkong, how much longer do you intend to wallow in self-pity?

"This is not how someone who came out of Shrek Academy should behave."

Although this phrasing was plagiarized from someone Juggler found quite unlucky, he felt no psychological burden using it.

As for Shrek Academy, while Juggler didn't consider it a particularly good place, in this era, not everyone from Shrek Academy was without merit.

Moreover, Wu Zhangkong seemed destined to become one of those with merit.

Therefore, Juggler didn't mind using this method to provoke Wu Zhangkong.

After all, he had seen something different in Wu Zhangkong's eyes—something unlike the vast majority of powerhouses he had encountered in this world.

"...Your Excellency Snake Heart, since you already know, there is no need for me to hide it.

"I still cannot forgive the crimes I committed back then; I am not worthy of being a member of Shrek Academy.

"Because, I..."

"That is merely what you believe, and what you assume others would think."

Juggler interrupted Wu Zhangkong without ceremony, then said with profound meaning:

"Furthermore, how do you know that others would view you that way? Even if you have never met those people or spoken a single word to them?

"To unilaterally decide that certain things are right or wrong, and thereby negate someone's life—I will never allow such a thing to happen.

"Not even if you are unilaterally negating your own life."

Having said that, Juggler brushed past Wu Zhangkong once more.

As their figures crossed, Wu Zhangkong felt a surge of extremely pure and powerful dark energy.

But by the time Wu Zhangkong turned around, subconsciously releasing his Martial Soul and gripping his Frost Sky Sword, the corridor was already empty.

Juggler's figure had completely vanished from the hallway.

"Negating my own life... is it?

"Long Bing, was your final testament also... a negation of your own life?

"No, your life was not negated by yourself; it was negated by the Dark Hummingbird, that father of yours who is unworthy of being human!

"I am such a fool, truly. Why did I negate my own life because of the mistakes of the Dark Hummingbird!"

Something seemed to shatter within Wu Zhangkong's heart.

Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Lan Kai stood over the guardian of the primary-level platform, the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear, while using his Ultra X-Ray Vision to observe the situation of the others in Zero Class in real-time.

"As expected of partners with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, can they converge so quickly even inside the Spirit Ascension Platform?

"Wait, what is that? A Man Faced Demon Spider!

"It didn't go after Wang Jinxi, but instead went for the God King of Defeat?

"Damn it, unless Gu Yue goes all out and Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi can successfully execute their Martial Soul Fusion Skill without being interrupted by the Man Faced Demon Spider, they are absolutely no match for it!"

Thinking of this, Lan Kai could no longer sit still.

In a sense, a century-old Man Faced Demon Spider was not the most powerful soul beast in this primary-level platform, but it was definitely the most terrifying when it came to bullying the weak.

Moreover, the Man Faced Demon Spider was also the soul beast capable of inflicting the greatest degree of harm on soul masters entering the Spirit Ascension Platform.

When soul masters encounter a crisis in the Spirit Ascension Platform, they can press the button on the back of their left or right hand to exit the platform.

But if they are in a situation where they cannot use the button, then the soul master can only pray for their own luck.

He could only hope that the Spirit Pagoda staff would be fast enough to initiate his emergency extraction before the Man Faced Demon Spider could inflict terrifying mental damage upon him.

But more often than not, such expectations ultimately dissolved into disappointment.

Therefore, upon seeing the Man Faced Demon Spider preparing to launch a sneak attack on the students of Zero Class, Lan Kai immediately abandoned the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear beneath his feet and flew at a low altitude toward the direction of the Man Faced Demon Spider.

The soul beasts encountered along the way became nothing more than incompetent speed bumps beneath the Sperion Ring in Lan Kai's hand, failing even to slow his pace.

At the same time, Lan Kai confirmed the locations of Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, firing spheres of light with his left hand to form a guiding line between their position and the location of Xie Xie and the others.

Although Lan Kai was confident he could deal with the Man Faced Demon Spider before Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi arrived, who would ever complain about having too many cards to play, unless they were in a desperate rush during a game of Landlord?

On the other side, the God King of Defeat Xie Xie, thanks to the coordination of that "match made in heaven" pair of "scoundrels" Tang Wulin and Gu Yue, had luckily escaped the Man Faced Demon Spider's first sneak attack and managed to save his own life.

"What a terrifying thing. Boss, Gu Yue, what do we do?"

Xie Xie had attempted to counterattack, but his two daggers didn't even qualify to scratch the surface of the Man Faced Demon Spider.